The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

[Quahom1]

13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

13:46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

What does this mean? Who is the merchant? What is the pearl, that outshines all other goodly pearls?

Your thoughts...

v/r

Q

[Faithfulservant]

13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

13:46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.


The merchant deals in pearls and he find the one pearl that is very precious and sold all that he had and bought it at a heavy price..

The merchant is Jesus and he seeks those that seek the Kingdom of Heaven with all their heart and soul and He paid a heavy price that they may see the Kingdom of Heaven. It makes me realize how precious we are to Him.

[MattWolf]

To me it brings forth the concept of discernment. It also calls into mind the concept of sacrifice of less important things. Lastly, the idea of focus or singlemindedness.

The story encourages me to discern the true worth of things. Then, I must strive for that which is truly important. I must loosen my hold on less important things to meet more spiritually valuable goals. A general example would be to sacrifice some luxury item to donate $ to the needy in New Orleans. Or quit a high paying but empty job to serve the less fortunate.

Likewise we are being told that the kingdom of Heaven is discriminating. God's priorities and standards of evaluation are clear, and He is not wishy-washy about doing what must be done to fulfill His will. The darker interpretation is like the parable of the wheat being removed from the chaff...some will be highly valued and others will be discarded.

[Dondi]

The pearl of great price is one's own soul. We are that merchant and we need to regard the worth of our soul, as well as the souls of others. I am reminded of a saying of Jesus in Matthew 16:26, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" How do we guard our soul? By giving everything else up and give our soul to God. The cares of this world often enrapture us and causes us to be drawn from God. But the purpose of God is not for this world. He tells us to "...lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." and "... seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." - Matt. 6:19-21, 33. Afterall, when we are gone from this life, we take nothing but our soul.

[Abogado del Diablo]

The version of this parable from the Gospel of Thomas adds a different twist:

(76) Jesus said, "The kingdom of the father is like a merchant who had a consignment of merchandise and who discovered a pearl. That merchant was shrewd. He sold the merchandise and bought the pearl alone for himself. You too, seek his unfailing and enduring treasure where no moth comes near to devour and no worm destroys."

I think it means we should come to know our Self rather than be content with identifying with outward appearance or body.